This was a Christmas gift from Sean, which is sort of funny to me. I'm not a huge Kennedy fan/freak and he said he more wanted to buy me a gossipy booThis was a Christmas gift from Sean, which is sort of funny to me. I'm not a huge Kennedy fan/freak and he said he more wanted to buy me a gossipy book than a Kennedy book.

Anyway. It's a social history of their White House and it's been kind of fun to read it with all the Obama transition. The chapters on Kennedy's affairs and his professional/personal attitudes towards women sort of make me hate him.

I'm about halfway through and have been picking it up here and there--little pieces of sugary gossip. For instance, did you know that Kennedy used to swim nude in the White House pool with both male reporters and female staffers, sometimes at the same time? True story....more

This book served as my first introduction to Emma Goldman and I will forever hold it in high regard because of that fact. Additionally, Falk does an eThis book served as my first introduction to Emma Goldman and I will forever hold it in high regard because of that fact. Additionally, Falk does an excellent job of exploring a part of Goldman's life that the subject herself is somewhat eager to avoid in her own autobiography: the intersection of gender, intimacy, and anarchist philosophy.

Goldman, a proponent of free love, is refreshingly human in her struggle to have fulfilling relationships as well as a revolutionary life. I highly recommend this to anyone who has ever considered their choices to be in conflict with their philosophies. ...more